Gaza Culture Clash: Spanish actor Javier Bardem says he’s “getting more work than ever” after his pro-Palestine campaigning, arguing the “narrative [is] changing” even as claims of Hollywood “blacklisting” swirl. Cannes Spotlight—Desert Sahara on Screen: Bardem’s new film, Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beloved, puts Western Sahara into the plot as a director shoots in the desert and tensions with his estranged daughter turn brutal—while reviews call it his scariest performance. Franco-Algerian Legal Ties: Justice minister Gérald Darmanin is expected in Algiers to revive judicial cooperation, including the case of detained French journalist Christophe Gleizes, in a relationship still strained by Sahara disputes. Western Sahara Rights Forum: In Banjul, a conference at the African Commission’s 87th session focused on human rights in occupied Western Sahara, warning of restricted monitoring and a media blackout. Smara Escalation: Multiple outlets and Saharawi-linked groups condemn attacks on Smara, warning they could derail UN-backed negotiation momentum under Resolution 2797. Security Crackdown in Dakhla: Morocco says it arrested a suspected Daesh-linked extremist in Dakhla, with authorities citing plans to attack inside Morocco. Diplomacy Pressure: The US urged a final resolution to the Sahara dispute in talks with Algeria, while UN “quiet diplomacy” is described as building a path toward Moroccan autonomy.